Automobile signal control



Feb. 26 1924.

J. LUSTIG AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL CONTROL Filed June 5,

osey 1 Feb. 26, 1924.

'um'reo STATES 1,484,837 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIPH LUBTIG, 01' NORTH IILWLUKEE, WISCOHSHQ'.

AUTOIOBILE SIGNAL CON'TBDL.

Application fled June 8, 1922. Serial Io. 565,525.

H bile Signal Controls; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention pertains to signals for motor vehicles, and moreparticularly to switch for actuating said si als.

The invention conslsts in a switch for an electrically operated signaladapted to indicate the intention of the driver to reduce his speed orturn either to the left or right, and controlling means capable of beingattached to the steering wheel of the vehicle. The object of theinvention is to asignal control adapted to be rea il rovide I tached andlocked to the steering whee of a motor vehicle, thus ensurin the switchagainst theft or ,removal an at the same time'rendering manipulation orcontrol of the signal convenient for the operator.

Wit the fore oing and other objects in view, which will more apparent asthe description roceeds, the'invention consists in what is erein shownand described and more particularl pointed out and defined by theappended c aims, it bein understood that various modifications anchanges in the structural details are contemplated as within the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawlngs,

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention, diagrammaticallyillustrating the ap lication of the same, and

igure 2 is a transverse sectional'view taken thru the signal control.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, theinvention is illustrated in combination with a vehicle si nal S,comprising a housi 3, rovided wit an attaching bracket 4, v v fiere ythe signal can be secured to either the front or rear fender 5 of avehicle. The housing 3 is divided into a plurality of compartments bythe partitions 6, which compartments car the incandescent 1am s 7. Theface of t e signal is provided wit transparent glass 8 of any desiredcolor, that portion 0 the glass in register with the r1 ht and leftcompartments being provide with the image of a hand indicati a right andleft direction respective y. The central portion of the glass, whichregisters with the central compartment, bears the words Go slow, toindicate the drivers intention to reduce his speed.

While I have shown merely one face of the signal provided with atransparent glass containing the various signals, it will be understoodthat in cases where it is desired to impart information to those infront of the car, both sides of the signal will be provided with a lass.

For I provide a novel switch control C, which, in order to rendercontrol of the signal convenient to the operator, I propose to fasten tothe arms 9 of the steering wheel 10. The control C comprises a switchbox 11, provided with buttons L and R, which, upon depression, willclose the circuits to indicate reslpectively, left and right turns.

. t will be noted that the lamp 7, positioned in the centralcompartment, is wired in series with boththe circuits 12 and 13. Thus asthe button L is depressed, the central and left hand compartment will beilluminated, while actuation of the button R will illuminate the centraland right hand compartment.

To eliminate the necessity of drilling holes in the arms of the steeringwheel, in order to attach the control C, I mount the switch box 11 on aslate 14, provided with downwardly turne ends 15, ada ted to straddlethe arms 9. The lower sur ace of the plate 14 has secured thereto, alock housing 16, which carries the slidable lungers 17, said plungershaving their en s tapered at 18 and adapted to engage the arms 9 inorder to prevent theft or removal of the control C. The plungers 17 areprojected by means of an eccentric 19, disposed between their adjacentends, the eccentric being yieldably held against rotation which willprevent the plungers from being forced inwardly by the s rings 20, whichsprings also tend to rotate t e eccentric to expand or project theplungers and ensure a ti ht engagement with the arms 9. When it isesired to remove the control C, the eccentric 19 is rotated against thetension of the springs 20 by means of a key 'K, which is inserted thruthe opening 21, rovided in the lock housing 16.

E i-om the foregoing, it will be seen that a signal control of verysimple construction and neat appearance has been provided which maybereadily attached to the arms e purpose of actuating the signal S,

of a steering wheel without the necessity of any cumbersome mechanicaloperations, its removal requiring a key, thereby ensuring the deviceagainst theft.

I claim:

1. An electric switch adapted to be attached to a s oked steering wheelof an automobile, sai switch com rising a plate ada ted to span thespace between adjacent spo es and having down-turned edges adapted tooverhang such spokes, switch elements carried upon the upper side ofsaid plate, a housing carried u on the under side of said plate, a pairof p ungers projecting in opposite directions through said housing, acam member ositioned within said housing and adapte to be controlled bya key to force said plungers outwardly into en-.

gageme nt with the under side of said s okes, an gieldable means forurging sai cam mem or into plunger projecting position.

2. An electric switch ada ted to be attached to a s oked steering w eelof an automobile, sai switch comprisin a plate adapted to rest uponadjacent spo (es, switch elements carried by the upper side of saidplate, a housing carried by the under side of said late, plungersslidably projecting from said housing and having beveled faces adaptedto engage the under side of such spokes, and resiliently actuated meansfor forcing said plungers outwardly and looking them in such outwardlyextended position in engagement with said 5 okes, said means having an aerture thereln adapted to receive a controlling key.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

JOSEPH LUSTIG.

